PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Josh Conger (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Fujiyama Akagono (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Conger
vs
Akagono

178 cm
20
180 lbs
0 - 2 - 0

187 cm
21
184 lbs
4 - 2 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid boxing
Big heart

BJJ Purple Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Josh Conger!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Fujiyama Akagono!
The judges for this bout are Yasuomi Hirokawa, Shirou Masuda and Yukihiro Yamamoto.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Akagono shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Conger as he jumps to the side.
Conger shoots and misses
and Akagono counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.

Akagono scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.

Akagono wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Conger, who protects the arm well.
Conger is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Sloppy strikes there by Akagono.
Conger manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Conger won't allow Akagono to pass to mount.
Conger is refusing to be controlled, as Akagono sits in half guard.
Conger is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Conger is looking to get full guard. It looks like he might be successful but at the last minute Akagono jumps into side control!
Conger prevents Akagono from improving position.
Conger tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Akagono scoring with punches and elbows.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Conger takes an elbow right on the bridge of the nose and winces in pain.
Akagono working away.
Akagono looking to punish the body of his opponent here but Conger is avoiding damage well.

Akagono tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Akagono is maintaining the dominant position - no doubt Conger will start to get frustrated soon if he's not already.
Conger is looking to regain half guard here but Akagono keeps moving and retains side control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Akagono controls the position.
Conger tries to improve position but can't.
Akagono is looking to take a break and control but Conger is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Conger is being controlled here.

Akagono is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Conger is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.

Akagono is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Conger has escaped the position, nice work there.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Akagono is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Conger is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Conger is trying to get back to half guard.

Akagono looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Sloppy strikes there by Akagono.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Conger is looking to regain half guard here but Akagono keeps moving and retains side control.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Fujiyama Akagono dominated that round.
That's time! Conger's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Akagono fails in his attempt to clinch.
Conger shoots in but Akagono avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Conger scores with a decent looking hook.
Akagono slaps away a takedown attempt from Conger, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Conger with a hook.
Conger throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.
Akagono looks for a takedown but Conger sprawls well.

Conger changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Akagono looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Akagono manages to work his way to half guard, despite Conger's best efforts.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Akagono is looking for a sweep. Conger is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Conger is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
Akagono is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Conger's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Conger's back!
Conger rolls and manages to get back to half guard. Nicely done.
Akagono is looking to take a break and control but Conger is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Akagono wants to pass to mount but Conger is defending the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Akagono thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Conger's head.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Akagono in particular looking to stall.
Conger regains full guard. Nicely done.
Conger wants to control the position but Akagono says "no thanks buddy" and passes to half guard.
Akagono works his way into side control.
Akagono working the ground and pound but Conger is defending the strikes.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Akagono tries to advance to mount but Conger denies him.
Conger is trying to improve his position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here as Akagono stalls from top position.
Conger is trying to improve his position.
Conger is looking to work his way out of this bad position but Akagono is controlling him well.
Akagono controls the position from side control.
The ground and pound from Akagono seems to be hitting the mat more than his opponent.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Conger tries to bench press Akagono off him but Akagono keeps the position.
Akagono trying to control the action but Conger is working from the bottom.
Conger gives up the full mount - oops, sloppy defensive grappling there!
Poor strikes thrown by Akagono there. More accuracy and less frantic strikes would help!
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Conger tries to reverse the position but Akagono maintains control.
Akagono unloads with some shots from mount but Conger bucks and avoids them well.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Fujiyama Akagono will probably get the nod - 10:9.
That's time! Conger's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Conger avoids a lazy jab quite easily.

Akagono scores with a takedown into Conger's guard.
Conger wants to sweep but no luck.
Akagono sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Conger's guard.
Conger is trying to get back to full guard.
Conger moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Akagono passes into half guard.
Conger wants to improve his position but Akagono is controlling well.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Akagono is looking for a kimura here.
Conger flails away from the bottom but he's not doing any damage.
Akagono trying to mount his opponent but Conger defends it.
Conger controlling the leg, holding on to half guard.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Akagono in particular looking to stall.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Conger tries to roll over but Akagono keeps him under control.
Conger is doing well to avoid being mounted. He's controlling the position at the moment.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.

Akagono is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Fujiyama Akagono has got the better of the ground game so far.
Akagono trying to control the action but Conger is working from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Akagono is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Conger is just riding it out for now. Akagono eventually gives up the hold.
Conger is doing well to avoid being mounted. He's controlling the position at the moment.
Akagono moves nicely into side control.
Akagono has control of an arm but Conger manages to advance to Akagono's back!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Akagono manages to reverse the position and now he's in Conger's guard. Nice work there by Akagono.
Akagono missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Conger controls Akagono momentarily but Akagono frees himself.
Akagono sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Conger thows some rabbit punches from the bottom but they don't do any damage.
Josh Conger has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Fujiyama Akagono is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Akagono trying to control the position from guard on top but Conger is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

And that's the end of the fight!
Fujiyama Akagono comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Akagono has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. Over to the ring announcer for the scorecards.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Yasuomi Hirokawa scores the fight 27:30
Judge Shirou Masuda scores the fight 27:30
Judge Yukihiro Yamamoto scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Fujiyama Akagono!